Access Policy

Government Documents

The Samford University Library Government Documents Collection is open to the general public during regular
library hours. The majority of the collection is housed on the second floor in a separate open stack area arranged largely by SuDoc classification. Certain documents, among them the Federal Register, the Code of Federal Regulations, and the United States Code, are housed in the Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library. A small percentage of documents relating to Alabama have been incorporated into Special Collection. The remaining documents are housed in compact storage on the Lower Level of the University Library. The government documents or reference staff is available for retrieval services and research guidance.

Samford University Library provides free access to its Government Documents Collection regardless of the format: print, microform, or electronic. Fees for photocopying print and microform materials are consistent with other library collections. Currently, there is no charge for downloading or printing electronic materials. Electronic materials include resources available through the Internet, CD-ROMs, and floppy diskettes.

Internet access is provided at no cost. Samford University currently uses filtering software that may restrict some URLs, although we have ensured that .gov and .mil sites will not be blocked. Should a government site be restricted, a request should be made by the patron to a depository staff member to have the site made available.

CD-ROMs are available on a stand-alone workstation near the Documents Service Counter. CD-ROMs that are not currently loaded will be installed for the patrons' use the day requested if a regular depository staff member is available. Otherwise access to the CD-ROM will be provided the next regular work day.

Patrons' use of depository workstations is subject to the library's overall acceptable use policy.

The library administers and maintains the depository collection in accordance to Title 44, U.S. Code, and follows the guidelines prepared by the Library Programs Service, Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Special Collection

The Special Collection department serves the Samford University and Alabama Baptist community. However, the collection is open to the public and all researchers are welcome to come and use the materials. The department is located on the lower level of the library and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each researcher should sign the guest register located by the double doors before beginning his or her research. The collection is non-circulating and materials are restricted to use within the department. However, some microfilm materials may be Interlibrary loaned. All books, journals, and Alabama newspapers within the collection may be found in the Samford Libraries Catalog.

Access to the Alabama Baptist index may also be found online. Manuscript materials are included in the Information Index, which may be accessed within the department. A photocopier is available and copies of materials may be made at the discretion of the staff. The majority of the collection is kept in closed stacks. Only Special Collection staff members have access to these stacks. Call slips are located throughout the department's reading room and may be used to request items from these stacks for research.